The parliamentary budget officer says in a new report that this year's federal deficit could hit $256 billion due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The parliamentary budget officer estimates the Canadian economy could shrink by 6.8 per cent in 2020, the weakest showing since 1981. (Justin Tang/Canadian Press)The parliamentary budget officer says in a new report that…
Read More »Tag Archives: Federal
Federal deficit likely now at $260 billion due to COVID-19, PBO says | CBC News
Parliament's spending watchdog says the estimated deficit for the year has likely risen to about $260 billion, leaving the government with little fiscal firepower to stimulate an economic rebound. Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux said the last time the PBO looked at basic income, it estimated the federal cost at between $76 billion and $86 billion…
Read More »The federal government’s inaction could hamper tech’s response to the pandemic
Most days in this column I try to bring you one big story about the intersection of tech and democracy, but reading the news today I find I can’t draw any real lessons for you. Instead I see a few clusters of stories that feel worth reading and thinking about. Let’s take a look. The…
Read More »Second federal politician tests positive for COVID-19
Updated March 16, 2020 20:05:36 Queensland LNP senator Susan McDonald has tested positive to coronavirus. Key points:Senator Susan McDonald is the second Australian politician to test positive for COVID-19, after Home Affairs Minister Peter DuttonSenator McDonald is in hospital receiving treatmentThe Home Affairs Minister remains in a Brisbane hospital but has a secure video link…
Read More »U.S. Federal Reserve slashes rate to near 0 in effort to offset COVID-19 impact | CBC News
Business·BreakingThe Federal Reserve took emergency action Sunday and slashed its benchmark interest rate by a full percentage point to nearly zero and announced it would purchase more Treasury securities to encourage lending to try to offset the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.The Associated Press · Posted: Mar 15, 2020 5:16 PM ET | Last Updated:…
Read More »